UConn Names Hank Hughes Interim Head Coach

STORRS, Conn. (January 3, 2011) - Hank Hughes, who has been a member of the University of Connecticut football staff for the past ten seasons, has been named the interim head coach of Husky football team. The 2010 season was Hughes' six as the assistant head coach for defense after spending the previous three as the defensive coordinator. He joined the UConn staff in 2001 as the defensive line coach.

"Hank Hughes is the perfect choice to fill the role as interim head
coach for our football program," says UConn Director of Athletics
Jeffrey Hathaway. "He has been a long-time member of our coaching staff
and is extremely loyal to our university and our Division of Athletics.
Hank will provide outstanding leadership to our football
student-athletes and support staff during this time of transition."

"I am extremely excited to serve as interim head coach of the University
of Connecticut football program," says Hughes. "We are proud of our
success and what we have achieved. Our student-athletes, coaches and
support staff look to build upon the current success of this program and
continue to move forward to new heights both academically and
athletically."

Hughes is a 32-year veteran of the coaching profession and was the
defensive line coach at Memphis from 1998-2000 before joining the UConn
staff. Hughes worked at Harvard (1994-97) where he was the assistant
head coach, defensive line coach and special teams coordinator.

He was
defensive line coach at Cincinnati in 1993 and was an assistant coach
for the Montreal Machine of the World League of American Football in
1991 and 1992, serving as linebacker coach in 1991 and adding defensive
coordinator duties in 1992. Hughes was the linebacker coach and
recruiting coordinator at James Madison from 1985-90, served as
linebackers and defensive line coach at Lafayette from 1982-84 and also
coached the defensive line at Northeastern (1981), Springfield College
(1980) and Albany (1979).

Hughes is a 1979 graduate of Springfield College with a bachelor's degree in physical education.

22 Comments

So as people in Connecticut try to pick up the pieces and stabilize a ship now without a captain, I’d like to suggest that UConn goes after former Miami coach Randy Shannon, who was let go by the Hurricanes earlier this season.

Some people will say Shannon isn’t a very good X’s and O’s guy, and other may contend his team quit on him this year. The Hurricanes went 7-5 this year after many pegged them as BCS contenders. But some of that blame has to be placed on a handful of Miami players who didn’t meet expectations this year. Shannon positioned his kids to have a chance to win the past couple years, including in a game at Ohio State earlier this season, but some of them just didn’t get the job done.

Jeff, Uconn picked the perfect person in Hank Hughes to restore order during this transitional time. Living in Tolland and knowing Hank and his family for many years he is extremely talented,loyal,honest and straightfoward.

No no no no no!!! This label of interim better stay just that! If UConn hires this guy full time you can get ready to be the doormat of the Big East for a long time. What does he bring other than being on the staff for a long time? Why would a kid want to come to UConn and play for him. Wake the f up Hathaway and hire someone who won't destroy all that has been built.

Shocking how we went from a potential target for the Big Ten to BCS Bound to nothing in the span of two days!

@phillip i was thinking the same thing. i think randy shannon is a good fit for Uconn and the foundation that is there. miami was not. if i cant have Mangino eating sticks of deep fried butter on the sidelines, i wouldnt mind randy shannon

I think they should hire former OC and current Towson University head man Rob Ambrose. He knows the program, is a proven recruiter at this level, he has head coaching experience, and the profile of a guy who can grow with the program and be a Calhoun/Geno type who makes the program his own and leaves when he’s ready to retire. All the other names being bandied around are just going to use the program as a stepping stone which is sure cause stability issues that the basketball, soccer, and baseball programs for that matter do not have to deal with. He knows the remaining assistants and would be able to keep the program’s progress on track probably without losing any recruits and he can handle the offensive schemes now that Moorhead (thankfully) is also gone. It may not be the sexiest hire, but neither was Edsall and looks like it will be the best long term for the team.

It's thought that JoePa will spend one more year at Penn State. The only way Bradley comes is if the AD at Penn State tells him he's got no legit chance as being named successor. But Pitt also plays a factor and I'd assume PSU would love to get him out of the Western PA recruiting field if he actually has his choice of jobs.

LOVE all of this tasty coaching speculation, Des, good times had by all!

Shannon is the man I'd like to see go to CT. When the rumors were swirling that RE may go to Miami, I kept thinking, man if he does I'd really wouldn't mind just swapping coaches. He's a standup guy that will continue to bring in standup athletes. If we got him and kept the remainder of the staff (sure will miss Richardson)we'd hardly miss a beat.

To the Husky players and faithful fans, love ya and really proud of you guys.

To HCRE, thanks for all you've done the last 12 years, good luck in your future endeavors. See you in 2012 - 2013.

Bradley bring Defense... I say bring in Bradley and bring and keep our OC and whomever else he wants from Penn State

The rub is if you bring in a big name they are gone in 3 years or so... we are a stepping stone... if you bring in a new guy you may get 5 years before they move. The imes of coaching stability at Uconn are long gone.

Rob Ambrose, the worst OC in the ncaa, good idea.....please get real. Rich Rod if he's available tomorrow would be a great fit, Mike Leach, okay he put a kid in a closet big deal! at least he unlike our some holds people accountable. Phil Fulmer's still unemployed, but the guy that's gettable is George O'leary. Gotr UCF to #25, great resume, even if it's a phony, the guy can flat out coach and a move from CUSA to BE would be sellable.

The standard has got to be HIRE A GUY WHO CAN WIN A NATIONAL CHAMPIOPNSHIP, if that's not the goal, we've got the wrong guy. Speaking os which, does anybody trust Hathaway with this decision????

Hank Hughes is a great defensive coach and since 2004 the defense has been the strength of this team. I hope Hughes and the other D coaches Todd Orlando and Darrell Perkins all stay.
Edsall did good the last few years but there are other coaches that should get some credit for all the success of this team!

I'm glad to see Hank as interim head coach. Seems to me his defense has scored more touchdowns than Edsall's offense in the big games. How Edsall left showed a complete lack of character. His coaches of 10years and players deserve respect and Edsall showed none. He burned this bridge and that's his legacy.

Randy Shannon? no way. he has no ties up here, and couldn't get players to come or to play once they were at the U, and he is a Miami guy. Not a good fit for uconn.
But Mark Whipple on the other hand... Quite likely still has ties in the area from his umass days, now has credibility in florida and the southeast. Uconn needs an offensive jolt and a refreshing change. If he brings in a good defensive coordinator, Whipple makes uconn a better team. If Leach is out, Whipple is the next best guy.

Edsall, not my kind of guy. It's not that he is leaving it is how he left. It showed a complete lack of character. He should have come home with the team and told the players and coaches face to face. They would have understood instead of feeling abandoned.

RichRod would be a great choice, but it would have to be built into his contract that if there is any hint of any NCAA violations during his tenure, the University should be able to fire him without penalty.

Dez came to Connecticut in 1991 and began covering high schools, then UConn football, the NFL, UConn basketball, Big East football, Big East basketball, national college football, national college basketball, the NBA. He has been a beat writer ... read more